Washington Whispers

Kerry In Line to Replace Clinton at State?

By Paul Bedard

September 15, 2010 RSS Feed Print

Word on Capitol Hill is that Sen. John Kerry, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee with a well-worn passport to the world's hot spots, is in the mix to replace Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who's been hinting of an exit before the end of President Obama's first term. Kerry, as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has acted as an emissary for Obama. Should he leave, Wisconsin Sen. Russ Feingold, in a bitter reelection fight, would be in line to chair the committee. If he loses, it might fall to New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez, whose goal is the fall of Cuba's Castro regime, a policy Obama doesn't seem to back.

Tags:
John Kerry,
Russ Feingold,
Robert Menendez,
Fidel Castro,
presidential election 2004,
Barack Obama,
Hillary Clinton

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RE: "She will be the next president...". The only female in the comment is Sarah Palin. Though one may not have meant Mrs. Palin, I feel Sarah could give HRC some makeup tips. But, I believe it will take more than makeup to make up for HRC's legacy. Is one refering to John of CA as a mad "hatter"? What is meant by, "... sitting in that dump of yours....", has one been to John's home? CA is a beautiful state, as is NY. It is a put down of oneself to deride others comments, it's the same as discounting them as, "That's just your opinion." Oh, by all means take exception to comments, but personal attacks are counterproductive. Sticking to the issue and not going off on tangents attacking responents, will not dissuade and can add knowledge to the disussion. Be as gracious as one's name is precious, and, as one would want others to address oneself.

MAOtivation of TX 7:58PM September 21, 2010

Kerry would be fantastic as Secretary of State, but his strength in the Senate is needed more than ever. The Democrats in the Senate will have to deal with a much smaller majority and his efforts there will be needed.

He is doing an incredible job as Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which has allowed Obama to use him on several key diplomatic efforts. In fact, he has more personal diplomacy accomplishments than HRC has - though she is the de facto Secretary of State. It was Kerry, not HRC, who has had more impact on Pakistan. It was also Kerry, not HRC, who was able to get Kharzi to agree to follow Afghanistan's election law - something needed for the US policy to have any chance. It was Kerry, not HRC, that made the break though that allowed the US to re-engage with Syria - something needed if Middle East peace talks were to have any chance. It was Kerry, not HRC, who got the agreement of Sudan to allow international aid to return to its original level. All this - which is not part of the normal SFRC role - in addition to having chaired a large number of excellent hearings and worked very well with Lugar to quietly get Obama's foreign policy legislation through a Senate with road blocks to anything.

If Kerry could do this role when there is a high powered, high name recognition Secretary of State, why would Obama not consider selecting a very skilled bureaucrat to run the State Department - leaving foreign policy to Biden, with advise and assistance from Kerry? This leaves a strong ally in the US Senate.

karenc of NJ 8:54AM September 16, 2010

so the plan is to go from stupid to insane, how just like this administration.

ed of NV 4:33AM September 16, 2010

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Washington Whispers has been featured in U.S. News & World Report since 1933, offering a fun, insider's view of Washington.

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